It’s the year 1620. A group of people from England arrive in America. Their ship is called Mayflower. The people want to find new homes in America. But it is winter. They are cold and hungry.

Native Americans help them. They give them food and warm clothes. In spring, the Native Americans help them to grow corn and pumpkins. They also give them some turkeys. In the autumn, the people from England have a big party. They want to thank the Native Americans for their help. They eat turkey and pumpkin. This is the story of the First Thanksgiving.

For flowers that bloom about our feet; For tender grass, so fresh, so sweet; For song of bird, and hum of bee; For all things fair we hear or see, Father in heaven, we thank Thee!Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thanksgiving Day Around the World

Thanksgiving is essentially a harvest related festival. It celebrates communal harmony marked as a sense of gratitude people feel for all the good things in life. This is done by offering prayers, gifting your near and dear ones. The fourth Thursday in the month of November is marked for the yearly celebration Though it is said to have been originated in America, a number of other countries celebrate harvest related festivals. They are observed with different names and in different seasons.Harvest related festivals, all the over the world are characterized with lot of fun and merrymaking. Each region has its unique customs and traditions to jubilate the occasion. The celebration of Thanksgiving will be incomplete without the legendary Turkey. It derives its name from the ‘turk turk’ sounds it makes when scared. Turkey was at one time being considered as the national symbol of America. Benjamin Franklin felt that turkey was the right choice because it was a good runner and had a sharp sight. A bald eagle later became the national symbol of America.
This is the time for relatives living in different places to come together and celebrate.